How to Find your Vocation
in the Horoscope

by Beatrix Braukmüller

How can we find a profession that really fits our
needs? How can we recognise our true vocation? It is not always easy
to find the right job because in many cases circumstances confront
us with difficulties that influence our choice. These may be due
to the economic situation but also to our own insecurity as far as
our aspirations and our true abilities and potential are concerned.
People tend to consider their job as a means to earn a living. They
may choose a "career with potential" for purely materialistic
reasons.

But how can we find out which career corresponds to
our real calling and potential, and where should we be prepared to
compromise?
True vocation is always connected with the urge to realise
one's potential, and with the true goals in life which (should) transcend
the material level. It matches our predispositions and talents. Vocation
therefore needs more than a degree or an apprenticeship. It has to
express special abilities which spring from the deepest needs of
our soul.

How can we distinguish job and vocation when looking at the natal
chart?
A horoscope usually points to different aptitudes and abilities
which predispose a person for more than one particular profession.

Seven steps to finding your vocation
in the horoscope

It is necessary to consider all chart factors when looking for
vocation in the horoscope.

Step 1: The Hemispheres

Emphasis on the eastern (left) hemisphere: everything that concerns
the "me" or "I" aspects of life

Emphasis on the western (right) hemisphere: everything that concerns
the "you" aspects of life

Emphasis on the (top) day hemisphere: "what comes to the
light"

Emphasis on the (bottom) night hemisphere: "what lies in
the dark"

Step 2: Distribution of planets in the elements
(triplicities)

The elements tell us something about the temperament of the horoscope
person.

Mutable: great flexibility and adaptability; difficulty in taking
decisions. Tendency towards intellectual professions with a lot
of variety.

Step 4: Planets in and rulers of the "professional" houses
2-6-10

2nd House: material security

6th House: work and health

10th House (MC): profession / vocation, position and reputation
in society

Step 5: The Ascendant (AC), ruler of the
AC and its aspects

Public appearance.

How does the person present himself/herself to others?

Which role does the person play?

How does he/she react to his/her environment?

The ruler of the ascendant shows the way and the areas in which the
person wants to present himself/herself.

Step 6: The planets - their meanings in
signs and houses, and their aspects

Sun: What is the central theme in life?

Moon: What does the person need to feel fulfilled and content?

Mercury: What is his/her mental attitude?

Venus: What are his/her artistic and social qualities?

Mars: In what areas does he/she use his/her energies? Where
does he/she become active?

Jupiter: In which areas can the person expand and develop
himself/herself?

Saturn: Where does he/she carry responsibilities and fulfils
his/her duties? Where does he/she meet obstacles? What are
his/her fears?

Uranus: Where does he/she show a need for variety and change?
Where does he/she express his/her intuition, originality,
sudden insights and impatience?

Neptune: In which areas does he/she use inspiration,
instinct, sensitivity and imagination?

Pluto: Where does he/she express or feel control,
power and powerlessness?

Step 7: The Nodal Axis / Moon's Nodes

The Moon's Nodes can add to the knowledge about a person's
development. This axis is related to the relationship between
personal social developments. Therefore, aspects to the nodal
axis can give interesting insights on this issue. Especially
important are planets conjuncting the North or South Node.

Example:
Andrea
- A clerk

Andrea has been working as a clerk in the legal department of a
large travel enterprise for more than 10 years. But now she feels
the need for a change, or even for a completely different kind of
work. But now she finds her present job too "sober" and
it starts to bore her. Her main occupation is paper work and writing
letters.

Steps 1-3:
Most of the planets in this chart are above the horizon (top
half) and on the right side. Many planets are in Aquarius
- a fixed air sign. This is a person who appears to be outgoing
and sociable, who wants to work independently and realises
her (idealistic) goals with great perseverance.

Step 4:
Of the "professional" houses 2, 6, and 10, only the
10th house contains any planets; Sun, Jupiter and Mercury are
conjunct the midheaven in Aquarius, Mercury conjuncting from
the 9th house. This constellation indicates that Andrea is strongly
drawn to the public. She is ambitious and needs to know that
people respond to her. Independence, a great need for freedom
and variety (Aquarius) as well as a desire for recognition and
a reputable, influential position (Sun conjunct MC) become obvious.
She likes to "set the tone".

Andrea is sociable and has a zest for life (Sun-Venus). Besides,
she has a humanistic attitude which is indicated by her Pisces
Moon. She can be friendly, cheerful and affable with a capacity
for adroit articulation (Mercury-Venus). She is also likely
to have a pleasant voice as well as being artistic and diplomatic,
which could point to a profession in the arts.

Her optimism and enthusiasm make it easy for Andrea to get
support from influential people (Sun-Jupiter) and to reach her
goals without difficulty. There might be a leaning towards indolence
and evasiveness (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter square Neptune).
With Mercury in the 9th house conjunct Jupiter and MC, Andrea
is likely to have a quick grasp of things as well as being interested
in further education and humanitarian goals, but she could also
be tempted to "think too big" and to foster exaggerated
expectations.

It should also be noted that the constellation in Aquarius
is conjunct the South Node, squaring Neptune in the 5th house
- the house of creativity. Sun square Neptune may provide her
with an idealistic attitude, but also with a tendency toward
self-delusion. Andrea might find it difficult to assess herself
realistically - which is also indicated by the conjunction of
Sun, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter. With Sun, Mercury and Jupiter
square Neptune, Andrea is very imaginative. She could yearn
to free herself from her everyday duties. This tendency towards
evasiveness is amplified by the square to Neptune: wishful thinking
and a lack of objectivity may come forth. Andrea could become
unintentionally unreliable or make mistakes due to forgetfulness,
day-dreaming or lack of concentration.

Neptune square MC/IC indicates that Andrea lacks clear aims
in life, and tends to be dissatisfied with her working conditions,
always hoping for something better which may never actually
happen. Andrea should actively engage in further education and
improve her professional and social position. Neptune is sextile
Pluto in Virgo in the 4th house which - despite being a generational
aspect - should be noted, because Pluto rules the 6th house
cusp in Scorpio. The need for self-assertion and power as well
as strong unconscious emotions are likely to play a role at
work. On the other hand, there is a possibility that Andrea
tries to escape professional life by having children, a partner
or an illness (Neptune in the 5th house; if Placidus houses
are used, in the 6th). This would amount to fleeing from her
own task, as she has certain idealistic wishes concerning the
type of work she prefers to do.

Her Mars-Saturn conjunction in Aquarius and the 9th house provides
Andrea with the capacity to work hard and accomplish a lot.
Since the conjunction is otherwise unaspected, however, there
is a danger that activities in the areas of education, law and
travel are strongly constrained (Mars=activity; Saturn=constraint),
so that Andrea remains passive in these fields. Mars-Saturn
in the 9th house provide her with a strong sense of justice.
Therefore, it is important for her to develop realistic ideas
concerning her profession without falling pray to exaggerated
expectations (Sun, Mercury, MC, Jupiter, Venus and the South
Node square Neptune).

Step 5:
The Gemini Ascendant adds to the emphasis on the air element.
It shows an open-minded, inquisitive personality who is interested
in everything new, but also one who may lack the stamina and
perseverance to realise her goals.

Her 10th house Moon in
Pisces squares the AC/DC axis but is otherwise unaspected.
Andrea may often find herself in a conflict, because
her Pisces Moon makes her very sensitive, compassionate and
eager to
help other people, but the Gemini Ascendant tends to
take things easier and more superficial so that her humanitarian
streak "vanishes into thin air".

Step 6:
Can be left out, since the planetary constellations were
analysed in step 4, and the horoscope does not contain many
aspects.

Step 7:
The Moon's Nodes are especially important in this chart because
the North Node is in Leo in the 4th house. Andrea is required
to develop into a competent and confident personality that
concerns herself with her soul as well as her family. To be
able to do this, she would have to free herself from the South
Node in the 10th house in Aquarius conjuncting Sun, Venus
and Jupiter. The nodal axis is exactly conjunct MC/IC. This
makes it very hard for Andrea to disengage herself from the
past and the familiar.

What is Andrea's vocation, and how
can she come closer to fulfilling it?

Andrea's vocation is indeed in the area of the 10th house.
She should find a profession that allows her to advocate humanitarian
goals, support other people and be of benefit to the public.
This profession should also involve the compassion and helpfulness
of her Pisces Moon. With an Aquarian MC and many planets in
this sign, Andrea needs a profession in which she can express
her inventive and idealistic side. She should develop her identity
within a larger frame than just in family and home life. Uranus,
the ruler of her midheaven, is in Leo in the forth house and
has no planetary aspects. This means she should not try to replace
her profession with a family, because she would keep breaking
out of it. It is Andrea's task to develop into a self-confident
personality, to become psychologically independent, and to be
able to play her public role competently. She could actually
find astrology quite helpful.

Andrea must learn to overcome the restrictions she has to meet
on her path to self-realisation by using reason and understanding
(Sun, Moon's Node). She should also find out in how far problems
concerning development and her search for meaning may be due
to inadequate time management or exaggerated expectations. Professional
goals may conflict with ethical goals (Jupiter, Moon's Node).
Andrea could choose a foyer of an enterprise or practice as
a work place where she is in close contact with the public.
Besides, she could work at a helpdesk or information centre,
or any other public office that allows her to make use of her
organising skills, work with a computer and meet people.

Her work in the legal department of a travel enterprise does
not meet Andrea's potential because she absolutely needs to
be in contact with other people. A job in the background is
out of the question for her. Since Andrea has no possibility
to take over a more prominent position in this company, it makes
sense for her to look for alternatives.

Transiting Uranus was in Aquarius and triggered the Mars-Saturn
conjunction in 1997. 1998 to 2000, Uranus was transiting Mercury,
the MC and the planets in the 10th house. Everything pointed
to a sudden change which would require flexibility and quick
responses. It is likely that she was massively confronted with
this topic when Uranus reached the opposition to natal Uranus
- at the latest.

Uranus transits bear the danger of rash actions or unreflective
decisions. Nevertheless, apart from the professional re-orientation
the transits also mark the need for a psychological re-orientation.
Under these circumstances, the best bet for Andrea is to avoid
getting stuck in Neptunian wishful thinking, and instead become
active as soon as possible.

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